Smoker&#39;s mouthpiece



Dec. 6, 1955 w. wjwARD 2,725,883

SMOKERS MOUTHPIECE Filed NOV. 27, 1953 Will/27m W Ward INVENTOR.

United s. meat 2,725,883 SMOKERS MOUTHPIECE William W. Ward, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Flora May Ward, Columbus, Ohio Application November 27, 1953, Serial No. 394,751 3 Claims. (Cl. 131-228) The present invention relates to tobacco smokers ing a slight addition thereto, may be used as a holder for cigarettes and the like.

With further reference to the so-called pipe stem bit, this is usually of some hard molded rubber or equivalent material and has a flattened mouthpiece or so-called grip at one end which lendsitself to retention between the smokers teeth. One object in the instant endeavor is to utilize a tubular elastic tip member resembling a rubber nipple and to construct the same of flexibly resilient rubber of the desired degree of elasticity so that one end of said tube is easily fittedover the above stated. grip in a manner to effectually conform to and grippingly hub the same, whereby said tip is thus reliably joined to said bit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexibly resilient tube, substantially cylindrical and wholly open at one end and substantially closed at the other end, said latter end being closed only to the extent that it virtually prevents the flow of saliva from the mouth through said end and into said tube, and yet permits smoke laden air to be intermittently drawn and puffed, by way of said flow controlling end, into the users mouth.

A further object has to do with the above structure and a rigid metal sleeve or ferrule which fits telescopically into the substantially cylindrical open end of the tube and provides a satisfactory socket member into which the cigarette is fitted and is satisfactorily held.

The outstanding, and therefore significant feature of the invention is the distending and flattening of the other end of the mouth grip so that the elastic properties provide a restricted slit which is sufliciently closed to function as a suction valve and to thus prevent saliva from naturally or normally flowing into the tube and then into the pipe stem and bowl and wherein the slot is, nevertheless, susceptible of being opened up sufliciently, when sucking pressure is applied, to permit the passage of smoke laden air into the mouth of the user.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, as above stated, one end of the rubber or equivalent nipple-like tube is open and substantially cylindrical to fit over the beaded end of the bit of the pipe stem, and the other end of the tube is fashioned into a relatively taut, flattened, suction controlled valving mouth formation which may be said to be made up of upper and lower flattened lips, and this month formation is attained by merely utilizing a flat plate or insert, the latter being fitted telescopically into the last named end and serving to thus transform the otherwise substantially cylindrical end of the tube into the flat mouth formation and to distend and rigidify it so that an efiective check valve is thus provided, a valve which when the user draws or pufls in the usual way, is opened to allow the smoke to enter the mouth, and as soon as the suction is cut off, it closes to the extent that any moisture or saliva is prevented from flowing or otherwise entering the passage of the tube, and consequently the smoke bore of the pipe stem.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional tobacco smoking pipe including the aforementioned bit at the left in the drawing and with the attachable and detachable nipple-like mouthpiece or tip attached and in readiness for use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged lengthwise fragmentary section taken approximately on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a view in plan with a portion broken away, wherein the mouthpiece is provided at the so-called open end (the right hand end in the drawing) with a metal ferrule to provide a socket member such as may used as a cigarette holder in the manner shown; and

Figure 4 is a section with a part in elevation taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

It is to be further stated at this point that a portion of the subject matter of the instant application is disclosed in copending application, Serial No. 326,001, filed in the Patent Office on December 15, 1952, and now abandoned.

However, the instant application is a continuation-inpart of Serial No. 326,001.

In Figure 1, the bowl of the pipe, which is conven tional, is denoted by the numeral 6 and its integral stem at 8, while the remainder of the stem, which is here called the bit, is denoted at 10. This has the usual smoke passage 12 therein as shown in Figure 2 and has the customary beaded mouthgrip at 14. The readily attachable and detachable rubber or equivalent tubular mouthpiece is denoted generally by the numeral 16 and it is a relatively short tube, and the right hand end portion in the drawing is open and said end portion 18 is adapted to be slipped, in a nipple-like fashion, over the beaded bit 10 so that it is elastically and frictionally held in place. Approximately one-half of the tube is thus joined to the bit while the other left hand end portion, as best shown in Figure 2, projects beyond said bit. The projecting end portion, as before mentioned, instead of being substantially cylindrical, is flat to provide what is conveniently here designated as a suction controlled valving mouthpiece or tip 20. Actually, there are upper and lower lips 22 and 24 in close proximity, and these lips are stretched rather tautly and are close together to form a sort of a restricted valving slit. To obtain this desired flattened shape and to provide this desired valving tip, a flat metal'or equivalent non-corrodible insert or plate 26 substantially rectangular in plan view is provided. This is slipped telescopically into the left hand end portion of the tube and it is of such proportion relative to the bore of the tube, that when inserted, it stretches the tube horizontally in the drawing and spreads it and puts the lips under tension. Thus, the lips hug the insert, and a suitable check valve is thus provided. The intimacy of the lip surfaces and plate surfaces is such that said lips or valve may be said to be normally closed. This prevents moisture and extraneous matter from getting into the smoke passage of the pipe stem. When suction is applied by pufling alternatively in the usual manner, the lips open up and the desired smoke intake result is permitted. At the same time, saliva which may be accumulating in the mouth is satisfactorily prevented from flowing through the tip or mouthpiece 20 and back into the smoke passage of the stern.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the construction is the same as already described, and therefore the same reference numerals apply. The only thing to be added here is that in this form of the invention, we are looking at what may be called a cigarette holder. To accomplish this, all that is necessary is to telescopically fit one end of a rigid, non-corrodible ferrule or sleeve 28 into the open end portion 18 of the mouthpiece 16. The latter is thus transformed into a holder for the cigarette 3t) and the aforementioned saliva control valving action is provided at the left hand end, as already set forth.

In constructing the invention, the flexibly resilient tube with the flattened tip and the valving feature is the main improvement. On the other hand, a more specific phase has to do with the rigid metal sleeve anchored in the open cylindrical end portion 13, and in this manner, providing a more satisfactory adapter and retainer for the cigarette.

Cigarette, cigar and pipe smokers who use the herein disclosed mouthpiece will find that it actually promotes sanitation in that objectionable saliva will not reach and unduly wet and saturate the tobacco. Therefore, a clean, dry and uniformly mild smoking result is almost invariably assured.

Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is ciainied as new is as follows:

1. A mouthpiece for attachment to the usual beaded end of a rigid bit having a smoke passage comprising an elastic tube which is normally circular in cross-section, one end of said tube being normally cylindrical and adapted to be stretched and fitted over the beaded end of the bit to thus attach the tube to said beaded end and to provide a saliva intercepting tip, the opposite end of said tube having a thin flat metal rigid plate fitted wholly into its bore, the outer edge of said plate being flush with the adjacent end of the tube and being of a dimension such that when it is inserted, it stretches the tube and puts the accompanying portions of the tube under tension and defines a mouth-like and lower closely spaced tip embodying upper lips, said lips and plate defining a valve, which when suction is produced, allows smoke to be drawn theret'hrough into the smokers mouth, but when suction is not applied, closes up saliva or moisture from passing and tends to prevent through the valve and back into the smoke passage of the bit.

2. A mouthpiece of the flexibly resilient tube wholly class described comprising a open at one end and sub stantially flat at the other end and embodying a pair of opposed flat lip portions, and a non-corrodible fiat rigid substantially rectangular plate fitted wholly into said flat end, said lip portions being snugly in contact with the plate to substantiallyclose the end of the tube when no suction is applied but allowing the lip portions to be distended from the plate when suction is applied.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, and a rigid metal ferrule fitting telescopically into the open end of said tube and providing a socket member for retentive reception of a cigarette.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Warnke Nov. 11, 1941 Turinsky Aug. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1902 

